Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting is not increased by combination of low concentration sevoflurane and propofol compared with propofol alone in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery

BACKGROUND: The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is higher in patients receiving volatile anesthetics than those receiving total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol. However, it is unclear whether its incidence is increased when a low concentration of sevoflurane is used in combination with propofol. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, controlled trial enrolled women undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive general anesthesia either with propofol alone (group P) or with 0.8% sevoflurane and propofol (group SP, n = 36, each group) for maintenance of anesthesia. The incidence of PONV and the number of patients who required antiemetics were compared. RESULTS: There were no differences in the incidence of PONV and the number of patients who required antiemetics between the P and SP groups. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of 0.8% sevoflurane and propofol to maintain anesthesia does not increase the incidence of PONV compared with TIVA with propofol. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR UMIN000023647, registered 14 August 2016.